Skin-inspired hierarchically buckled fibers with stretchable porous microarchitectures and customizable functionalities

Jing Han, Bingang Xu, Zihua Li, Yun Tang, Junxian Huang, Xinlong Liu, Yujue Yang, King Yan Chung

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Advanced functional material fibers with surface porous microstructures are widely promising for smart and functional wearables owing to their unique structures and properties. However, design of advanced functional material fibers with surface hierarchically porous microstructures, high stretchability and desired functionalities is still a considerable challenge. In this study, inspired by the formed surface buckling of finger joint skin, we present a novel kind of hierarchically buckled porous microstructured fibers (HBPMFs) based on a general physicochemical strategy consisted of material systems manipulation, interfacial self-assembly, stretching-releasing control, and thermal annealing. The developed HBPMFs showed controllable skin-inspired buckling features and unique stretchable microarchitectures of porosity, and could also be facilely incorporated with functional nanomaterials to form a new kind of advanced functional material fibers that integrate desired functional nanomaterials in stretchable porous microstructures with more exposed porous surface area for higher performance. Influential factors such as polymer bricks, solutes, solvents, concentrations, fiber substrates and pre-stretching strain were also investigated. As demonstration of application, advanced functional material fibers with incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance for organic pollutants than control samples. This study provides an efficient strategy and new insights into design of a new kind of functional fiber materials with stretchable porous microstructures and customizable functionalities for advanced applications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number142606
JournalChemical Engineering Journal
Volume464
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 May 2023

Keywords

  • Conformal porous microstructures
  • Customizable functionalities
  • Functional fiber materials
  • Interfacial self-assembly
  • Skin-inspired buckling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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